Wayanad bypolls: Voting under way for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's electoral debut

NEW DELHI: Voting is currently under way in Kerala’s Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency as Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra makes her highly anticipated electoral debut.

Polling started at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm.

This bypoll gained importance after Rahul Gandhi , who held the seat since 2019, decided to vacate Wayanad to retain Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh, a seat he also won in the 2024 general elections. Days after the June 4 election results, Congress announced Rahul’s decision to vacate Wayanad, paving the way for Priyanka’s entry into the constituency.

Priyanka is competing against 15 candidates, including Sathyan Mokeri of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Navya Haridas of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The Election Commission has prepared extensively for this bypoll, distributing polling materials across 1,354 booths, all equipped with webcasting facilities to monitor the voting process.

Historically a Congress stronghold, Wayanad has consistently elected Congress MPs since its establishment in 2008, with Rahul Gandhi securing landslide victories in both 2019 and 2024, with margins of 4.3 lakh and 3.6 lakh votes, respectively. The United Democratic Front (UDF) is now mounting an intensive campaign to secure a substantial win for Priyanka, banking on her appeal and the traditional Congress support base of minorities, settler farmers, and tribal communities. Her campaign rallies have drawn large female audiences, which the UDF interprets as a promising indicator for her chances in the election.

Sathyan Mokeri, the LDF candidate, is focused on retaining the Left’s voter base, as he did in 2014 when he reduced the Congress's victory margin. Meanwhile, NDA candidate Navya Haridas has conducted a targeted campaign, focusing on key areas of support and reaching out to Christian voters by addressing issues like the waqf dispute.

The campaign concluded with a “Kottikalasham” (festive closing ceremony), followed by a day of silent campaigning. Priyanka chose a low-key approach on election eve, visiting a farm and the Banasura Sagar dam, while her LDF and NDA counterparts engaged with voters across the constituency. UDF is hopeful for a turnout exceeding the 73.5% recorded in 2024, ideally reaching the 80.3% turnout seen in 2019.

The LDF is relying on its organisational strength and Mokeri’s local recognition, while NDA aims to maintain the increased vote share it achieved in the 2024 general elections. With polling well underway, Wayanad’s 14.7 lakh voters will determine the outcome of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s first step into electoral politics.